Latin America PV News Snippets: Votorantim, Nextracker, BMR

• With 85.2 MW DC/68.7 MW AC capacity, Votorantim Energia and CPP claim to be building Brazil's 1^st hybrid solar and wind power plant
• Nextracker will supply its NX Horizon solar trackers for Vale's 766 MW solar project in Brazil's Minas Gerais
• BMR Energy has commenced construction on a 5 MW solar project to be owned and operated by Virgin Group in Costa Rica

1^st hybrid solar and wind project in Brazil: Votorantim Energia and Canada pension Plan Investment Board (CPP) have announced a solar and wind power project with 85.2 MW DC/68.7 MW AC capacity calling it Brazil's 1^st hybrid power project. Approved by the country's National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL), the project will be installed next to Ventos do Piauí I wind park to avail the shared transmission substation. It is expected to come online in the beginning of 2023. The project is being financed by Brazil's National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) for BRL 189.98 million.

Nextracker trackers for 766 MW Brazilian project: Mining company Vale S.A. has selected Nextracker as the tracker supplier for 766 MW Sol de Cerrado Solar Project it is building in Brazil to power its mining operations in Jaiba region of Minas Gerais. On completion in 2022, it will be connected to the regional transmission grid. Vale believes the project will account for 13% of its total energy needs in Brazil. "The company plans to produce 100% of the energy needed for its Brazilian operations by 2025 and reach carbon neutrality across its global footprint by 2050," said Vale.

Nextracker will provide its NX Horizon bifacially optimized smart solar trackers to be used for the facility, and also provide EPC for its trackers, asset management and advanced data analytics for preventive maintenance through its regional office in Brazil. This big order in Brazil follows another major deal Nextracker signed in the country in March 2021 for 830 MW NX Horizon trackers to be deployed for phase I of Janauba Solar Complex, also on Minas Gerais (see NEXTracker Gets 830 MW Solar Tracker Order For Brazil).

BMR Energy building 5 MW project in Costa Rica: BMR Energy has started construction on a solar power facility in Bagaces municipality of Costa Rica's Guanacaste province which it acquired in late April 2021. The project will be owned and operated by Sir Richard Branson owned Virgin Group will provide up to 5 MW capacity to the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) under a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA). On completion in H2/2021, the Valle Escondido Solar Project will be one of the largest solar generating facilities in the country, according to BMR Energy, and also the largest serving ICE. It added that while close to 98% of Costa Rican energy supply is renewable, only very little of it comes from solar energy.